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George Miller Dyott Papers

Creator:
Dyott, George Miller  Search this
Extent:
1.17 Cubic feet (1 document case, 1 slim document case, 1 flat box, 1 glass plate box, and 1 map folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Photographs
Correspondence
Diaries
Date:
Circa 1910-1946
Summary:
George Miller Dyott (1883--1972) was an early aviator; veteran of the Royal Naval Air Service; aircraft designer; and explorer. This collection contains approximately 1 cubic foot of material pertaining to Dyott's aviation career including correspondence; photographs; financial records; technical drawings; military records; news clippings; a World War I field diary; calling cards; and an annotated manuscript entitled, "Flying," written by Dyott.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains approximately 1 cubic foot of material pertaining to George Miller Dyott's aviation career including correspondence; photographs; financial records; technical drawings; military records; news clippings; a World War I field diary; calling cards; and an annotated manuscript entitled, "Flying," written by Dyott. Photographic formats include black and white prints of various sizes (some of which are mounted on cardstock or matted) and 5 by 7 inch glass plates. Many of the photographs, including one entire album, are devoted to Dyott's service with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. Aircraft pictured in the photographs include the Dyott Monoplane; Dyott Bomber; Walden IV 1910 Monoplane (identfied here as the Walden-Dyott Monoplane); an unidentfied model of Deperdussin; Nieuport 17; Vickers (UK) E.F.B.5 Gunbus; a Sopwith Baby fitted with Le Prieur Rockets; Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2; Handley Page O/400; Morane-Saulnier Type L (Mo.S.3); Blériot XI; Farman (Henry) H.F.20 (Type Militaire Biplane); and a later photo of a Bellanca Pacemaker CH-300. There are also photographs of a Royal Navy non-rigid airship and the wreck of the Zeppelin LZ 76 (Navy L 33), as well as early equipment such as searchlights; anti-aircraft guns; an anti-aircraft armored vehicle; and various types of bombs. In addition to Dyott, other well-known people in the photographs include Henry W. Walden; Patrick Hamilton; Francisco Madero (33rd President of Mexico); Arthur W. Bigsworth; and Reginald A. J. Warneford. The collection also contains one photograph of Harriet Quimby. There are also four technical drawings dating to 1914 in the collection ranging in size from approximately 24.25 by 15.5 inches up to 41 x 14 inches. Three of the drawings are on coated cloth and one is on waxed paper. Two are for a small promotional aircraft made from an ale bottle and powered by an 80-hp Gnome engine, one is marked "Worthington Ales" and the other is marked "Little Peter." The third drawing is a three-view of a "Hydro-Aeroplane for Tropical Rivers" powered by two 100-hp Mercedes engines, and the fourth is a side drawing of an unspecified type of biplane (undated). In addition to the drawings, there is a graph on waxed paper (14.5 by 13.25 inches) tracking altitude, time, and speed for an unknown aircraft (undated). The collection also includes records relating to the design and production of the Dyott Monoplane and Dyott Bomber.
Arrangement:
Some of the material in this collection arrived grouped together in folders or envelopes. This material was housed accordingly and original folder titles were kept where applicable. The rest of the collection is organized by type of material. Folder titles created by archivist, or additional information added to original folder titles by archivist, are in brackets. Within folders, material is arranged chronologically.
Biographical / Historical:
George Miller Dyott (1883--1972) was an early aviator; veteran of the Royal Naval Air Service; aircraft designer; and explorer. Dyott was born in New York in 1883 to an American mother and a British father. Dyott was educated in the United Kingdom before returning to the United States where he learned to fly at Curtiss Field in New York. Dyott was awarded Royal Aero Club aviator's certificate 114 in August of 1911. Around this time, Dyott partnered with Henry W. Walden designing monoplanes. In the autumn of 1911, Dyott and Patrick Hamilton began making a tour of exhibition flights with two Deperdussin monoplanes (one single and one double seater) which started in New York and included stops in the Bahamas and Mexico, where they carried then-President Francisco Madero as a passenger. Dyott then returned to the United Kingdom where he designed the Dyott Monoplane, manufactured by Hewlett & Blondeau, which he brought to the United States to fly a six month demonstration tour beginning in April 1913. Dyott entered military service in 1914 and served as a squadron commander for the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I. Around this time, Dyott designed a large twin-engine biplane for use in exploring. The Royal Naval Air Service saw a potential in this design for military use so Dyott made some modifications and two prototypes were ordered from Hewlett & Blondeau in 1916. The two Dyott Bomber prototypes were built and flight tested with various engines and armament, with the second being service tested in France, but the model never entered production. After World War I, Dyott became an explorer and joined the Royal Geographical Society. In 1927, Dyott was hired to lead an expedition retracing the steps of the Roosevelt–Rondon Scientific Expedition which confirmed Theodore Roosevelt's claims about the group's discovery and exploration of the Rio Roosevelt ("River of Doubt"). In 1928, Dyott led an expedition into Brazil searching for missing explorer Percy Fawcett. Dyott also founded Dyott & Company, Ltd. in Lima, Peru taking aerial photographs and other scenic views that were sold as post cards. Dyott wrote several books about his adventures (one of which was adapted into a feature film, Manhunt in the Jungle, in 1958), and also starred as himself in two documentary films (Hunting Tigers in India in 1929 and Savage Gold, which he also co-wrote, in 1933). In the mid-1930s, Dyott retired to Ecuador where he lived largely in isolation. He conducted two expeditions searching for Inca treasure in the late 1940s before returning to Ecuador where he stayed until returning to New York to reunite with his wife and children shortly before his death.
Provenance:
Michael Dyott, Gift, 2016, NASM.2016.0019.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations  Search this
Dyott Bomber (1916)  Search this
Dyott Monoplane (1913)  Search this
Aircraft  Search this
Walden IV 1910 Monoplane  Search this
Genre/Form:
Manuscripts
Photographs
Correspondence
Diaries -- 20th century
Citation:
George Miller Dyott Papers, NASM.2016.0019, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.2016.0019
See more items in:
George Miller Dyott Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg25a904b57-d4c2-42cf-9c30-5d0a6b3640e7
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2016-0019
Online Media:

Mid-Century Airliners Photography

Extent:
0.2 Cubic feet (1 slim letter document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1937-1987
bulk 1947-1965
Summary:
Photography in this collection was collected by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Air Transport Curator R. E. G. (Ron) Davies from a variety of unidentified sources, presumably for integration into his airline reference files. It includes a mixture of black and white and color formats from 35 mm roll film to 4.75 x 6 inch sheet film. Aircraft pictured are predominantly airliners in use in the post-World War II period, circa 1947-1965, and include views of British, European, and American airliners at airports in the United Kingdom, and passenger and cargo aircraft belonging to various Central and South American airlines photographed at Miami International Airport (Florida, USA).
Scope and Contents:
Original and copy photography in this collection includes a mixture of color positives (transparencies), color negatives, and black and white negatives predominantly in 35mm roll film format, either as cut strips or as individual frames (no complete rolls). The collection also includes some medium format sheet film in 4.75 x 6 inch, 4 x 5 inch, and 120 format sizes. A small amount of film was found in annotated enclosures, but the bulk of the material was unidentified.

A large number of the photographs in this collection appear to have been taken of British, European, and American airliners on the ground at international airports in Britain (UK), with a few views of Royal Air Force or British government aircraft. An equally large number of photographs show passenger and cargo aircraft belonging to various Central and South American airlines; these are predominantly seen on the ground at Miami, Florida (USA), although some were likely taken at other locations in the Caribbean area. Views taken in Florida also include various American airliners and a few US civil, military, and government aircraft. Views taken in Central America include a few photographs of military cargo aircraft belonging to the Colombian (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) and Salvadoran (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña) air forces. Aircraft types pictured include a large number of World War II military cargo aircraft modified for civilian service, particularly the Curtiss C-46 Commando and—to a lesser extent—the Douglas C-47 (DC-3) Skytrain (Dakota) and Douglas C-54 (DC-4) Skymaster. Other post-WWII American airliners such as the Lockheed Constellation family, various Douglas models (DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-10) and the Martin (Glenn L.) Model 404 (4-O-4) are also seen, as well as various British airliners including the Bristol 175 Britannia, Handley Page Hermes and Dart Herald H.P.R.7, Britten Norman BN-2A-III Trislander, and Vickers Viking and Viscount. A small group of photographs focuses on flying boats used by various small airlines, particularly the Short S.25 Sunderland and S.45A Solent models.
Arrangement:
Photography is organized by format. Images found together have been grouped in the same folder or sheet. Cut strips or individual frames which appear to be from the same roll of 35mm film are presented in frame number order.
Biographical / Historical:
The post-World War II period saw an explosion in the number of new national and international airlines, many making use of readily available surplus military aircraft such as the Douglas C-47 and Curtiss C-46 modified to serve as passenger and cargo aircraft in regularly scheduled and charter operations. This period also saw the introduction of four-engine pressurized airliners such as the Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-6, providing airline passengers with a faster, more comfortable air travel experience.

Photography in this collection was collected by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) Air Transport Curator R. E. G. (Ron) Davies from a variety of unidentified sources, presumably for integration into his airline reference files. This material was transferred to the NASM Archives from the NASM Aeronautics Department following Davies' retirement.
Related Materials:
See related collection R. E. G. (Ron) Davies Air Transport Collection, NASM.XXXX.0604.
Provenance:
NASM Aeronautics Department, transfer, 1989, NASM.XXXX.1224
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics -- 20th century  Search this
Aeronautics, Commercial  Search this
Airlines  Search this
Airplanes  Search this
Airports  Search this
Curtiss C-46 Commando  Search this
Douglas DC-3 Family  Search this
Douglas C-47 Skytrain Family  Search this
Douglas C-54 Skymaster Family  Search this
Douglas DC-6  Search this
Douglas DC-7  Search this
Lockheed Model 749 Constellation  Search this
Lockheed Model 1049D Super Constellation  Search this
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Family  Search this
Citation:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography, NASM.XXXX.1224, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.1224
See more items in:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2ca6c932d-5bc3-4515-a60e-5c6505f500e1
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-xxxx-1224
Online Media:

The War, duplicates [Photographs]

Collection Creator:
Dyott, George Miller  Search this
Container:
Box 2, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
George Miller Dyott Papers, NASM.2016.0019, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
George Miller Dyott Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2da7a94b3-d5b4-4307-bb84-20c2faad1ace
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-2016-0019-ref16

[Oversized Graph]

Collection Creator:
Dyott, George Miller  Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
George Miller Dyott Papers, NASM.2016.0019, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
George Miller Dyott Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg22573e6cc-7eb1-4faa-8520-e69bbf3d891d
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-2016-0019-ref18

[Oversized News Clippings]

Collection Creator:
Dyott, George Miller  Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
George Miller Dyott Papers, NASM.2016.0019, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
George Miller Dyott Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2a3379b66-e3fc-4511-bb70-4fea6792cb4b
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-2016-0019-ref21

[Oversized Photographs]

Collection Creator:
Dyott, George Miller  Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
George Miller Dyott Papers, NASM.2016.0019, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
George Miller Dyott Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg244c233a2-7e97-4aef-a80e-d202b4ce9ea0
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-2016-0019-ref22

Modern Air Transport (MAT) Curtiss C-46A Commando (r/n N3935C)

Container:
Box 1, Folder 9
Type:
Archival materials
Negatives
Date:
circa 1959-1961
Scope and Contents:
"7177-2." Left side view of Modern Air Transport (MAT) Curtiss C-46A Commando (r/n N3935C, civil modification, originally USAAF s/n 42-107376) on the ground at Miami, Florida; circa 1959-1961.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography, NASM.XXXX.1224, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.1224, Item NASM-9A19426
See more items in:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography
Mid-Century Airliners Photography / Black and White Negatives, 4 x 5 inch (plus one 120 format), Post-WWII Curtiss C-46 Civil Modifications [Florida]
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2c944a3b7-e75d-4043-86f0-eb01f7f33357
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1224-ref36

Aerovias Q Curtiss C-46A Commando (r/n CU-T607)

Container:
Box 1, Folder 9
Type:
Archival materials
Negatives
Date:
circa 1957-1959
Scope and Contents:
"6567-6." Left side view of Aerovias Q Curtiss C-46A Commando (Cuba r/n CU-T607, civil modification, formerly USAAF s/n 42-107292) on the ground, possibly at Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida; circa 1957-1959. Note Lopez-Grace Aviation building in left background.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography, NASM.XXXX.1224, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.XXXX.1224, Item NASM-9A19427
See more items in:
Mid-Century Airliners Photography
Mid-Century Airliners Photography / Black and White Negatives, 4 x 5 inch (plus one 120 format), Post-WWII Curtiss C-46 Civil Modifications [Florida]
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg278ef4213-2878-4484-b37d-5827fb4ac2e6
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-xxxx-1224-ref37

Poster, NASA, Mission, Apollo

Manufacturer:
Hammond Inc.  Search this
Materials:
Ink on paper
Dimensions:
2-D - Unframed (H x W): 63.5 x 96.5cm (25 x 38 in.)
Type:
LITERATURE AND RESEARCH-Posters
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Found in collection.
Inventory Number:
A19850514000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv911296737-212e-40da-994a-e64bb90e7525
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19850514000
Online Media:

Balloon Valve, "City of New York" / "Great Western"

Materials:
Wood
Coating
Ferrous Alloy
Organic Fiber Rope
Copper Alloy
Uncharacterized Fabric
Rubber
Dimensions:
Overall: 111.1 × 111.8 × 10.2cm, 15kg (3 ft. 7 3/4 in. × 3 ft. 8 in. × 4 in., 33lb.)
Type:
CRAFT-Balloon Parts
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Date:
1859
Credit Line:
Donated by the Heirs of Thaddeus C. Lowe
Inventory Number:
A19310043000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9004f8a20-5149-4826-9d62-28d2c4692c69
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19310043000
Online Media:

Model, Rocket Engine, Liquid Fuel, J-2, 1:8 Scale

Manufacturer:
Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International  Search this
Materials:
Plastic, paint, lucite, metal, wood,
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 ft. 1 1/2 in. long x 7 1/2 in. diameter (34.29 x 19.05cm)
Type:
MODELS-Propulsion
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number:
A19740738000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv919a9ff8b-d114-43fc-a5b9-68f9c7332d99
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19740738000
Online Media:

Reel with Wire Coil, Rocket, Grapnel, Wadsworth Mount

Manufacturer:
Intertype Corporation  Search this
Materials:
Ferrous Alloys
Natural Fiber Fabric
Cardboard
Paint
Dimensions:
3-D (Diameter x Height): 39.4 × 12.7cm (1 ft. 3 1/2 in. × 5 in.)
Other (unrolled): 4572cm (150 ft.)
Type:
CRAFT-Missile & Rocket Parts
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Gift of Wadsworth Mount
Inventory Number:
A19771118002
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9bb46e809-7220-404e-b5be-ffd7c9851c23
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19771118002

Cap, Service, United States Navy

Manufacturer:
Berkshire Co.  Search this
Materials:
Overall: Wool
Visor and Chin Strap: Leather
Dimensions:
Clothing: 26.7 x 27.9 x 14cm (10 1/2 in. x 11 in. x 5 1/2 in.)
Type:
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Helmets & Headwear
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by R. J. Butler
Inventory Number:
A19790882000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9073b0665-8d44-45ba-a454-60dd27c8c286
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19790882000
Online Media:

Coat, Service, United States Navy

Manufacturer:
Novakoff Bros.  Search this
Materials:
Overall: Wool
Dimensions:
Clothing (On Mannequin): 85.1 x 61 x 35.6cm (33 1/2 x 24 x 14 in.)
Type:
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Uniforms: Military
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Donated by R. J. Butler
Inventory Number:
A19790883000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv953ccf511-ac0c-4e7e-bddb-c6aed3f09db2
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19790883000
Online Media:

Indicator, Exhaust Gas Temperature

Materials:
Ferrous Alloy
Non-Magnetic Metal Alloy
Paint
Glass
Plastic
Adhesive
Dimensions:
3-D: 7.6 × 15.2 × 5.9cm (3 × 6 × 2 5/16 in.)
Type:
INSTRUMENTS-Engine & Fuel
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Found in collection. Donor unknown at this time. Found on NASM premises.
Inventory Number:
A20000924000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv92a009f9e-291a-4440-a02f-0e47bf933c72
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A20000924000

Box, Indicator, Exhaust Gas Temperature

Materials:
Cardboard
Ink
Foam
Adhesive
Synthetic Fabric
Dimensions:
3-D: 14 × 9.7 × 9.8cm (5 1/2 × 3 13/16 × 3 7/8 in.)
Type:
INSTRUMENTS-Engine & Fuel
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Found in collection. Donor unknown at this time. Found on NASM premises.
Inventory Number:
A20000924001
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9c3bb88bd-db4a-436a-8a35-da0328fc60ef
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A20000924001

ALSRC, Apollo Lunar Sample Return Container

Manufacturer:
Union Carbide, Nuclear Division  Search this
Materials:
7075 AA aluminum case, 2024 aluminum alloy mesh lining
Dimensions:
Overall: 8in. x 1ft 7in. x 11 3/4in., 14.8lb. (20.3 x 48.3 x 29.8cm, 6.7kg)
Type:
EQUIPMENT-Lunar
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Credit Line:
Transferred from NASA, Johnson Space Center.
Inventory Number:
A20240027000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv993a9e533-8d1b-418c-a574-fe0b8a39a6fb
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A20240027000

Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers

Creator:
Jessen, Gene Nora  Search this
Extent:
8 Cubic feet (22 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1950s-2010s
Summary:
This collection consists of 8 cubic feet of archival material documenting the life of Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen from 1950s to the 2010s. She had a successful career as a flight instructor, Beech Aircraft sales demonstration pilot, Beech Aircraft dealership owner, flight school chief pilot, commercial pilot, Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Safety Counselor, aviation insurance agent/broker, advisor to the FAA, president of the Ninety-Nines, Inc. (1988-1990), and published aviation author. Jessen also participated in the Women in Space Program, evaluating women's potential as possible astronauts at the Lovelace Medical Center in 1961.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of approximately 8 cubic feet of archival material documenting the aviation career of Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, including her involvement with the Ninety-Nines, her career with Beechcraft Aviation, and her writings on aviation; there is also a small amount of material related to her week-long testing with the Women in Space Program. The following types of materials are included: correspondence, photographs, pilot logs, scrapbooks, photo albums, programs, brochures, maps, magazine articles, manuals, handbooks, VHS tapes, and audiotapes.
Arrangement:
When the National Air and Space Museums Archives received the Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Collection, it was arranged alphabetically by folder name. All original folder titles have been retained. PII has been manually redacted. Any additional contextual information that was added by the processing archivist appears in brackets.
Biographical / Historical:
Gene Nora (pronounced Janora) Stumbough Jessen was born on January 10, 1937, in Springfield, Illinois. While growing up, Jessen became interested in aviation after learning about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) who served their country during World War II. She began flying while in her junior year of high school in the Civil Air Patrol and earned her private pilot license in 1956. She then attended the University of Oklahoma (OU), where she was a member of their flight team and entered her first National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition. While taking classes in 1959, Jessen became the first woman to work as a flight instructor for the school, which allowed her to also pay for college. During her time at OU, she earned seven collegiate-level flying trophies and remained on staff for six years after completing her English degree.

In 1961 Jessen quit her job as a flight instructor when she was selected as one of the women to participate in the Women in Space Program (1960-1962), also known as the Mercury 13 or Fellow Lady Astronaut Trainees (FLATs), at the Lovelace Medical Center in New Mexico. She was twenty-four years old. Dr. William Randall "Randy" Lovelace, who designed and carried out the rigorous testing for the thirty-two male Project Mercury candidates, and US Air Force Brigadier General Donald Flickinger, were curious to see how women would fare against their all-male peers. Unable to interest the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the undertaking, they conducted the experiment in secret independently. For Phase 1, this group of women underwent the same rigorous physical testing regimen used for NASA's Mercury astronauts. All participants passed. Armed with these results, Lovelace and Flickinger lobbied both Congress and the White House to consider including women in the Astronaut Corps, neither of which were keen on the idea; On a draft response letter, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote "Let's stop this now!" Before the other parts of the test could begin, the Lovelace Program was cancelled.

Jessen moved to Wichita, Kansas, and accepted a job at Beech Aircraft in 1962. There, Jessen piloted planes for demonstration purposes for the company. On July 20, 1962, she embarked on a 90-day, 40,000 mile cross-country flight with fellow pilots Joyce Case and Mike Gordon. They were known as "The Three Musketeers", named after the Beech Musketeers the trio flew in formation across the United States. She and Case were the only female pilots flying for any aircraft manufacturer at that time. Soon, Jessen became rated to fly the entire line of Beech aircraft. In her spare time, she volunteered with the Wichita Wing Scouts from 1963-1967.

In Kansas, she also met and married Leland Robert "Bob" Jessen (1925-2020), a B-29 pilot during World War II, on June 12, 1964, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1967, they moved to Boise, Idaho, where they established their own Beech dealership and, later, an aviation insurance business and Boise Air Service, a full-service, fixed base operation on the Boise Airport.

Jessen was also an avid writer. She was the aviation columnist for The Northwest Flyer, and The Idaho Statesman. Jessen also wrote several books on the history of women in aviation, including Sky Girls, a chronicle of the 1929 Powder Puff Derby.

Additionally, Jessen was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve on the Federal Aviation Agency's (FAA) Women in Aviation Advisory Board for five years. Between 1988 and 1990, Jessen was President of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed women pilots. She was also a Wing Scout Leader, treasurer of the Idaho Pilot's Association, an Accident Prevention Counselor for the FAA, and the Boise Airport Commissioner. She was recently inducted into the International Women in Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. Jessen holds over 4,000 hours of flying experience and earned ratings as a commercial pilot, single and multi-engine land, single-engine sea, instrument rating and a Gold Seal flight instructor.

HONORS:

Honorary PhD, University of Wisconsin

Idaho Aviation Hall of Fame

Pathfinder Award Wall of Fame, Seattle Museum of Flight

Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

Ninety-Nines Amelia Earhart Award

Achievement Award, International Northwest Aviation Council

Evanston Township High School Distinguished Alumni Award

Adler Planetarium Women in Space Service Award

Mercury 13 NASA Award, International Human Space Flight Day

Women with Wings Award, International Air and Space Museum

Next Generation Indie Book Award, 2010

YMCA Pioneers of the Future Award

FAA Women's Advisory Committee on Aviation

Boise Airport Commissioner
Provenance:
Gene Nora Jessen, Gift, 2023, NASM.2023.0052
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Aeronautics -- Flights  Search this
Astronautics  Search this
Beech Aircraft Family  Search this
Women in aeronautics  Search this
Citation:
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers, NASM.2023.0052, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.2023.0052
See more items in:
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2b905f10b-05ae-4366-94c0-809cf299d0bc
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2023-0052
Online Media:

Beech Aircraft: John I. Elliott Interview by Leroy Clay

Collection Creator:
Jessen, Gene Nora  Search this
Container:
Box 3, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Computer Disks
Date:
1989-09-26
Arrangement:
Found within folder: Beech[craft Aviation] (2 of 2)
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers, NASM.2023.0052, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen Papers / Series 1: Professional materials, 1956-2017 / 1.1: Aeronautics / Beech[craft Aviation] (2 of 2)
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg2048f0bc8-9cfd-4a07-8db5-42bdd47c8c55
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nasm-2023-0052-ref158

Donald Sewell Lopez Collection

Creator:
Lopez, Donald S.,, 1923-2008  Search this
Extent:
.19 Cubic feet
3.218 Gigabytes
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Dvds
16mm films
Digital images
Date:
1940s-2006
Summary:
Donald Sewell Lopez (1923-2008) was a legendary figure in aviation having had a remarkable career as a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War, contributing significantly to aeronautical engineering and education, and playing critical roles in the planning and development of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). This collection includes slides, digital images, and audio-visual material maintained by Donald S. Lopez during his time as the NASM Deputy Director.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of 48 slides, some of which are duplicates, mostly relating to Lopez's service in World War II. The slides, most of which are black and white, depict various aircraft including Lockheed P-38M Lightning, Curtiss C-46 Commando, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Dornier Do 215 B-5 Kauz 3 (Screech Owl)(Night Fighter Modification), Douglas P-70, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight) Irving (Night Fighter Model 11), North American P-51 Mustang, and Northrop P-61 Black Widow. The slides also depict Lopez and a number of people who served with him in China including Lieutenant Jessie Gray, and Lieutenant Oswin "Moose" Elker. One slide also depicts the crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell that occured in Chihkiang on January 19, 1945. There are also images of Lopez at work in the Museum and of his wife, Glindel Lopez in her wedding gown. Finally, there is an image of the William S. Phillips painting, "Into the Teeth of the Tiger," showing Lopez in combat (this piece is owned by the Lopez family). A number of these images were used in Lopez's book "Into the Teeth of the Tiger."

The collection also includes a DVD of a panel lecture at the Udvar-Hazy Center on the Northrop P-61 Black Widow on June 8, 2006 featuring Donald S. Lopez, Robert Bolinder, Louis Bost, Avery J. Miller, Robert Ferguson as speakers and Dik Daso as moderator; a CD of photographs taken at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2000 showing Lopez and other NASM staff as well as figures such as Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager, Robert A. "Bob" Hoover, Patricia "Patty" Rosalie Kearns Combs Wagstaff, James A. "Jim" Lovell, Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson, and Frank Borman; and a reel of 16mm color film, with sound, entitled Reunions: Memories of an American Experience.
Arrangement:
Arranged in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Donald Sewell Lopez (1923-2008) joined the staff of the Smithsonian Institution in 1972 as part of the team responsible for planning the construction and opening of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). As assistant director for Aeronautics, Lopez was instrumental in developing the exhibits that welcomed visitors at the museum's opening on July 1, 1976. Lopez became deputy director of NASM in 1983, a position he held until 1990. He served as senior advisor to the director before retiring in 1993, holding a position as senior advisor emeritus until he was again appointed deputy director in 1996, a position he held until his death. Before coming to the Smithsonian, Lopez was already an aviation legend: he was a fighter pilot in the 23rd Fighter Group of the 14th Air Force - successors of the legendary Flying Tigers - in China. He flew Curtiss P-40s and North American P-51 Mustangs, demonstrating his extraordinary flying skills under the leadership of famous war heroes Col. Tex Hill and Gen. Claire Chennault. During his two years in China, Lopez flew 101 missions and tallied up five victories, the required number to be recognized as an "Ace." Lopez was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and three Air Medals for his service during World War II. After the War, Lopez became an Air Force test pilot and then served in combat again during the Korean War flying North American F-86s. Lopez then served at the Pentagon, during which time he also earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology and a master's degree in aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology. Lopez served at the US Air Force Academy as an associate professor of aeronautics and chief of academic counseling before retiring from the US Air Force in 1964 at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Lopez then worked as a Systems Engineer on the Apollo-Saturn Launch Vehicle and the Skylab Orbital Workshop for Bellcomm, Inc. Lopez was a member of the American Fighter Aces Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association and was a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Lopez was the recipient of many honors and awards, including being named an Elder Statesman of Aviation by the National Aeronautic Association (1995); the Federal Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Leadership Award recipient (1999); the Frank G. Brewer Trophy in Museum Education recipient; being inducted as a fellow by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (2006); and being honored as one of the living legends at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends at Rickenbacker Field in Columbus, Ohio (2007). Lopez's publications include Into the Teeth of the Tiger (Bantam, 1986), The National Air and Space Museum: A Visit in Pictures (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989) and Fighter Pilot's Heaven: Flight Testing the Early Jets (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995).
Provenance:
Donald S. Lopez, Transfer, 2008, NASM.2008.0042
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
Aeronautics  Search this
Genre/Form:
DVDs
16mm films
Digital images
Citation:
Donald Sewell Lopez Collection, NASM.2008.0042, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
NASM.2008.0042
See more items in:
Donald Sewell Lopez Collection
Archival Repository:
National Air and Space Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/pg298a1da39-2edc-4594-a9c4-0c11c346239f
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nasm-2008-0042
Online Media:

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